Delcy Rodríguez said oil output in the western state climbed from 70,000 barrels per day to its current level and announced plans to expand natural gas production and exports.
The Daily Journal — Oil production in Zulia state has increased from 70,000 to 370,000 barrels per day, with output expected to reach 400,000 barrels per day by the end of the period, Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced Saturday during the closing ceremony of the Second Energy, Oil and Gas Conference (CEPEG 2026).
“We started at 70,000 barrels per day, and today we are producing 370,000 barrels per day,” Rodríguez said, attributing the increase to the recovery of oil operations in the western region, one of Venezuela’s main hydrocarbon-producing areas.
Reaching the target of 400,000 barrels per day would increase production by 30,000 barrels over current levels, equivalent to about 8.1% growth.
During her remarks, Rodríguez argued that higher oil production would generate revenue to finance public services and social protection programs. However, she did not specify the expected revenue or explain how the government would distribute those resources.
The acting president also reaffirmed the government’s plans to expand natural gas production, both to supply the domestic market and to create export opportunities.
“We will produce gas to meet the country’s domestic needs — residential, industrial, and commercial — but also to export natural gas from Venezuela,” she stated.
Rodríguez announced the closing ceremony of CEPEG 2026 and the Zulia Energy Forum, which the Venezuelan Petroleum Chamber organized in Maracaibo. The event brought together more than 150 domestic and international companies, including operators and service providers, to discuss investment opportunities, technological development, and recovering hydrocarbon production.
The agenda included plans to optimize wells, improve operational reliability, and develop natural gas infrastructure. PDVSA President Héctor Obregón and Sectoral Vice President for Administration and Digital Government Anabel Pereira joined Rodríguez during the broadcast.
